Four Days Battle

The Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. Fought from June 1 to June 4, 1666 off the Flemish and English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.

Results

It was the biggest sea battle of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. However, the outcome is often described as inconclusive, because both sides initially claimed victory. Immediately after the battle the English captains of Rupert's squadron, not having seen the final outcome, claimed De Ruyter had retreated first, then normally seen as an acknowledgement of the superiority of the enemy fleet. Though the Dutch fleet was eventually forced to end the pursuit, they had managed to cripple the English fleet, and lost but four ships themselves, for the Spieghel refused to sink and was repaired. The contemporaneous Dutch view on this matter is expressed in a famous epigram by the poet Constantijn Huygens:

Related Topics:
Second Anglo-Dutch War - Epigram - Constantijn Huygens

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:Two fight - and for their lives.

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:The one that caused the row

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:is beaten - but survives.

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:And boasts: "I've won it now!"

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Two months later the recuperated English fleet challenged the Dutch fleet again, now much more successfully at North Foreland in the St. James's Day Battle. Though this proved to be a victory, the Dutch fleet again wasn't destroyed and the enormous costs of repair after the previous battle had depleted the British treasury, so the Four Days Battle is usually seen as a minor tactical but important strategic victory for the Dutch.

Related Topics:
North Foreland - St. James's Day Battle

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